Jed Lowrie is once again between disabled list stints, as the oft-injured infielder is back after sitting out the Astros’ first five games with a sprained thumb suffered late in spring training.

Lowrie went 3-for-6 on a brief minor-league rehab assignment and the switch-hitter acquired from Boston for Mark Melancon will take over as Houston’s starting shortstop after Rule 5 pick Marwin Gonzalez filled in for him.

Brian Bixler was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Lowrie, who will now try to stay healthy enough to play 100 games in a season for the first time.